Premiere ratings: 'Parenthood,' 'One Tree Hill,' 'Life Unexpected' dip

UPDATED: The second season return of NBC's "Parenthood" generated a stable number Tuesday, though couldn't improve on last season's series debut. The CW's "One Tree Hill" and "Life Unexpected" also returned to the stage.

"Parenthood" drew 7.6 million viewers and a 2.7 adults 18-49 rating, easily winning 10 p.m. and generating the show's third-highest rating to date.

The series was down 13% from its March premiere last season, which NBC notes received a significant promotional push during the Winter Olympics. "Parenthood" also fell 21% from the debut of "The Jay Leno Show" in the time period last fall, though marked a significant improvement on Leno's eventual average in the slot.

"Parenthood" unfortunately dropped 29% from its night-topping reality lead-in, a towering "America's Got Talent" (14.6 million, 3.9). "Got Talent" rose significantly this week, drawing its highest rating in three years. The "Minute to Win It" (6.6 million, 1.9) finale opened the night, up 6%. All told, NBC won the night.

The CW continued its premieres and both shows were down from last season's openers: "One Tree Hill" (2.1 million, 1.1) dipped 8%, which is pretty mild for a series in its eighth season. While "Life Unexpected" (1.7 million, 0.8). dropped a more severe 33%. Life may be unexpected but this rating is not -- this is about what "LE" typically pulled last spring.

The dramas still represent The CW's most-watched Tuesday in about a year, with "Unexpected" out-performing the "Melrose Place" average in the slot.

ABC aired two hours of "Wipeout" (6.8 million, 2.8), including its official summer finale. "Wipeout" was up about 30% from last season's closer and proves ABC's wacky reality series can continue to go the distance. "Wipeout" was followed by the special "Final Witness" (4.7 million, 1.3). Fox aired repeats. CBS had repeats and an extremely low rated (for CBS, anyway) special, "Fashion's Night Out" (2.7 million, 0.6).